ML20063C650

USGS Survey Triga Reactor Annual Rept for Jan-Dec 1993. W/

ML20063C650
Person / Time
Site:	U.S. Geological Survey
Issue date:	12/31/1993
From:	Timothy Debey INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
To:	Callan L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
NUDOCS 9402070115
Download: ML20063C650 (6)

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[ Y *;dg' United States Department of the Interior GEOLOGICAL SitRVEY

• **p e. BOX 25016 .\l.S 77f b *' DENVER FEDERAL CENTER DENVER. COLORADO 80225 l\ lt t l't \ N i 1 i K lf3 January 28, 1994 i!

i. ~

Mr. L.J. Callan  !'

Director, DRSS, Region IV i.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Ccmnissien 2 611 Ryan Plaza Dr, Suite 400 /

Arlington TX 76011 g:

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Dear Mr. Callan:

The attached annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey TRIGA reactor facility is stAnitted in accordance with license conditions.

'Ihe facility docket nteber is 50-274.

Sincerely, Reactor Supervisor Enclosure C @f to:

Document Control Desk (2)

Mr. Blair Nicholas USNRC 611 Ryan Plaza Dr Suite 400 Arlington TX 76011 O ! D /i Q n 9402070115 931231 PDR ADDCK 05000274 R PDR IEo I I\\

T U.S. GEDLOGICAL SURVEY TRIGA REACIOR ANNUAL REPORI' JANUARY 1,1993 - DECEMBER 31, 1993 NRC LICENSE 10. R-113 - DOCKET NO. 50-274 I. Personnel Chames The Reactor Health Physicist retired in February and was teaporarily replaced by another staff person, assisted by.a graduate student in Medical Physics. A permnent, full time replacerent for the Reactor Health Physicist was hired in D - b r. 'Ihe facility staff continues to be 4 full tim employees (reactor operators and health physicist).

II. Operatim Experience The Geological Survey TRIGA Reactor (GSIR) was in normal operation for the year 1993. No rajor facility changes were made durirg the year.

A total of 276 irradiation requests were processed during the year, with the average request representing 51 samples and 8 full-pcwer hours of rea t r operation. A synopsis of irradiations performed during the year is given below, listed by the organization submitting the samples to the reactor staff:

Omanization Ntznber of Samples Geologic Division - Geochemistry 10,774 Geologic Division - Isotope Geology 2,723 Geologic Division - Cent. Mineral Res. 5 Geologic Division - Sedimentary Proc. 7 Non-USGS users 475 Total 13,984 A. Thermal power calibrations were performed in February and August, with minor adjustments required.

B. Two new Class I experiments were approved during this period. 'Ihe Class I experiments involved the activation of a rock and mineral samples. No new Class II experiments were approved during the year.

C. During the report period,182 daily checklists and 12 monthly checklists were completed in compliance with technical specifications requirements for surveillance of the reactor facility.

D. Tours were provided to individuals and groups during the year for a total visitor count of approxirately 170.

4 E. Eleven starxlard fuel elements from the Flchigan State reactor were installed in the core during the year. 'Ibese replaced high-burnup elements and increased core reactivity. A total. reactivity gain of about $.90 was achieved. In D e m M r, all control rods were inspected and found to De within the tolerances specified in the Technical Specifications.

III. Tabulation of Enemy Generated Megawatt Time Reactor Number of Elonth Hours Wee. Critical __ Pulses JarrJary 87.237 93 tours 6 minutes 0 February 104.376 112 hours0.0013 days <br />0.0311 hours <br />1.851852e-4 weeks <br />4.2616e-5 months <br /> 21 minutes O March 109.526 130 hours0.0015 days <br />0.0361 hours <br />2.149471e-4 weeks <br />4.9465e-5 months <br /> 5 minutes o April 87.167 88 hours0.00102 days <br />0.0244 hours <br />1.455026e-4 weeks <br />3.3484e-5 months <br /> 1 minute O May 124.500 125 hours0.00145 days <br />0.0347 hours <br />2.066799e-4 weeks <br />4.75625e-5 months <br /> 49 minutes 0 June 138.667 140 hours0.00162 days <br />0.0389 hours <br />2.314815e-4 weeks <br />5.327e-5 months <br /> 4 minutes 0 July '75.266 79 hours9.143519e-4 days <br />0.0219 hours <br />1.306217e-4 weeks <br />3.00595e-5 months <br /> 29 minutes O August 102.767 106 hours0.00123 days <br />0.0294 hours <br />1.752645e-4 weeks <br />4.0333e-5 months <br /> 59 minutes O September 89.591 91 hours0.00105 days <br />0.0253 hours <br />1.50463e-4 weeks <br />3.46255e-5 months <br /> 3 minutes 0 October 105.683 106 hours0.00123 days <br />0.0294 hours <br />1.752645e-4 weeks <br />4.0333e-5 months <br /> 47 minutes 0 November 80.233 81 hours9.375e-4 days <br />0.0225 hours <br />1.339286e-4 weeks <br />3.08205e-5 months <br /> 2 minutes 0 December 61.500 62 hours7.175926e-4 days <br />0.0172 hours <br />1.025132e-4 weeks <br />2.3591e-5 months <br /> 15 minutes 0

'Ibtals 1166.513 1217 hours0.0141 days <br />0.338 hours <br />0.00201 weeks <br />4.630685e-4 months <br /> 1 minute 0 IV. P scheduled Shutdcwns Serial No. Date Cause 539 1/12 Scram due to NM1000 communications failure.

540 1/14 Scram due to DIS 064 timeout.

541 1/19 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

542 1/20 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer. lockup.

543 1/20 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

544 1/25 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

545 1/25 NP1000 scram while adjusting red positions.

546 2/9 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

547 2/23 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

548 2/24 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

549 3/9 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

550 3/24 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

551 '3/30 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

552 4/15 Manual scram due to RAM alarm.

553 5/5 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

554 5/7 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

555 5/13 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

556 5/17 CSC watchdog scram due to.camputer lockup.

557 5/28 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

558 6/14 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

559 6/22 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

560 6/22 CSC watchdog scram due to cceputer lockup.

561 6/25 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

562 7/14 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

562 7/23 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

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. 564 7/27 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

565 8/18 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

566 8/27 CSC watchdog scram due to cx2nputer lockup.

567 9/2 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

568 9/8 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

569 9/15 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

570 9/17 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

571 10/1 Scram due to loss of AC power.

572 11/12 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

573 _11/29 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer_ lockup.

574 11/30 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

575 12/14 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockvp.

576 12/14 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer-lockup.

577 12/14 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

578 12/14 CSC watchdog scram due to camputer lockup.

579 12/29 CSC watchdog scram due to computer lockup.

V. Maior Maintenance Operations

'Ihe 8-inch vertical beam tube facility was removed from the reactor tank in January due to lack of use. Other less significant maintenance items include the replacement of two neutron detector mounting brackets (this activity was started in late 1992) and replacement of several items in the digital control system. Ion exchange resin was replaced twice during the year, in April arxl November.

VI. Sumnnry of 10 CFR 50.59 charnes

'Ihere were no 50.59 changes at the facility during this report period.

VII. Radioactivity Releases A. Listed beloa are the total amounts of radioactive gaseous effluents released to the environs beyond the effective control of the reactor facility.

License (R-113) 10 CFR 20 Argon-41 AllcNable Tritium (IIIO) Allowable Mont_b (Curies) (Curies) (mCuries) (mCuries)

January 0.79 5.8 0.136 250 February 0.80 5.8 0.173 250 March 0.63 5.8 0.173 250 April 0.59 5.8 2.006* 250 May 1.26 5.8 1.931* 250 '

June 1.40 5.8 0.217 250 July 0.76 5.8 0.254 250 August _0.45 5.8 0.177 250.

September 0.40 5.8 0.159 250 October 0.63 5.8 0.150 250 November 0.30 '5.8 0.191 250 December 0.83 5.8 0.173 250 Total 8.84 70.0 5.740 3000 -

% of allcvable 12.6% 0.19%

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f Note #1: 'Ihe 7,rgon-41 activities reported are integrated values obtained from the facility's gaseous stack monitor. Calculated values have been substituted for measured values in the few instances when the

' monitoring system was down for maintenance or repair.

Note #2: The tritium wucad cations are estimates based on the amount of water lost by evaporation from the reactor multiplied by the concentration of tritium as Ifl0. Tritium sample analyses are being performed by Colorado State University.

B. Two 55-gallon drums of low level solid waste and solidified resin were shipped for burial in Washington during the year.

The total amount of radioactive waste released from the reactor facility during the year is estirated to be approximately 10 mC1.

Note: 'Ihe principal radioactive vaste generated at the reactor facility is the demineralizer resin - used resin with s:rall quantities of rinse water is solidified in 55-gallon drums with Portland cement prior shipment.

VIII. Radiation Monitorirn A. Our program to monitor and control radiation exposures included the four major elements below during the operating year.

1. Fifteen gamm-sensitive area monitors are located throughout the Nuclear Science Building. A remote readout panel is located in the reactor health physics office. High alarm set points range from 2 FR/hr to 50 mR/hr. High level alams are very infrequent and due to sample movements.

2. One Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) sanpling the air in the reactor bay. An equilibrium concentration of about 1 x 10 8 uCi/ml present for two minutes will result in an increase of 400 cpm above background. There are two alarm setpoints. A low-level alarm is set at 3000 cpm ard the high level alarm is set at 10000 cpm.

• Reactor bay air is sampled during all reactor operations. 'Ihe fixed particulate air filter is changed each week ard counted on a Gamma Products G4020 low Level counting system. 'Ihe charcoal filter, fitted behind the air filter, is also changed and counted weekly. In all instances, final sample calculations showed less than MPC (10 CFR Part 20, Appendix B, Table 11) concentrations for all isotopes in question in the reactor bay.

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3. Contamination wipe surveys ard radiation surveys with portable  ;

survey instruments are performed at least once a month. All portable j instruments are calibrated with a 3-Curie Cs-137 source traceable to NBS l and wipes are counted on a Gamma Products G4020 low level counting system. l Seventeen contaminated areas were noted durirg routine wipe surveys.

Beta activities ranging from 31 to 1130 pCi/100 cm were noted. Soap and ')

water were used to remove this contamination. The roof area over the l reactor tank is roped off and posted as a radiation area (averaging 2.5 mR/hr) during 1 MW operations. .

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4. Personnel, X and gamma, beta and neutron film badges are assigned to all permanent tvv=nts of the Nuclear Science Buildirg. CaSO *Dy dosimeters have been used at four outdoor environmentalReactor stations.4 facility visitors are issued Ir49 self-reading dosimeters. Reactor staff l personnel are issued albedo neutron hviges. 9 Personne' =viitoring results are categorized below:

Rem ,

Deep Shallcw [MutroD ,

Reactor Staf.f Whole Body Cumulative Dose for Calendar Year (thru 11-30)

Highest 0.125 0.125 0.000 >

Hands Cumulative Shallow Dose for Calendar Year Highest 0.000 0.200 0.000 ,

Reactor Experimenters

13) ole Body Cumulative Dose for Calendar Year Highest 0.000 0.000 0.000 Hams Cunulative Ibse for Calendar Year Highest 0.000 0.095 0.000 Reactor Visitors and Occasional Experimenters No individual reading was greater than 3 mrem. ,

Environmental Stations Rem Exhaust Stack 0.1363 West 0.0086  !

Southwest 0.0003 Southeast 0.0034 e i

Note: Personnel dosimetry results are for January 1 thorugh November 30.

'Ihe results for December have not yet been received. .

IX. Environ: ental Monitorim .

Soil and water samples are collected every other year. Envim uudal samples were collected in 1992 and will be collected again in 1994.

'Ihere have been no uncontrolled radioactivity releases fram the reactor to i the present date. 'Ihus, the data on file fram past years to the present are considered to be backgrouM inforration.

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